NTHH – CHUY£N TP PRACTICE TEST 14 [NG]

A.LISTENING
Part 1: You will hear an interview with Julian Morris, a nightclub owner. For questions 1-5, decide whether these following
statements are True (T) or False (F).
1 The main reason why Julian decided to start his own business was because it was an irresistible challenge.
2 A nightclub seemed the ideal environment for Julian to work in because his disability was less of a problem there.
3 When Julian told people about his idea, someone once reacted in an ironic manner.
4 The club owes its good reputation mainly to the diversity of people who go there.
5 Julian's main reason for calling the club Whispers was to allude ironically to his personal disability.
Part 2: You will hear a practitioner talking about alternative medicine. For questions 6-11, complete the sentences with a
word or short phrase.
Samuel Hahneman, the modern discoverer of homeopathy, wanted to eliminate the terrible 6) associated with
conventional medicine.
The 7) in England is one person who has severely criticised homeopathy.
In acupuncture, the intensity of stimulation caused by needles can be increased by passing an 8) through them.
When acupuncture corrects the 9) through the body, the patient feels better.
According to the practitioner, it is usually as 10) that patients go for naturopathy treatments. The
practitioner mentions 11) and stress as two factors that can undermine health.
Part 3: You will hear part of a discussion in which two consultants, Abbie Dale and Ryan Richardson, are talking about two different
small businesses that have achieved success. For questions 12-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which best fits according
to what you hear.
12 What does the company Ryan has chosen encourage its customers to do?
A. buy every kit it produces B. create new designs and
C. personalise their online submit them
13 purchases
Ryan believes that the main difference between the two companies
D.istell others how good the
A. the number of employees they have products
B. the way are
in which they have
taken on. developed.
14 C.
What
thedoes Abbie of
variety findproblems
most astonishing about to
they have the company sheD.
talks
theabout?
age range they cater for.
solve.
A. its skill in collaborating B. the owner's ability to keep
with partners developments secret
15 C.According
the fact to Ryan,
thatpeople
it haswho buy and assemble the electronicD.
grown kitsthe number of products it aims to
so fast start their own
A. should launch
B. are surprised by their
businesses. simplicity.
PartC.4: For
findquestions 16-25, listen to a speech and supply the blanksD.
the experience with the missing
aren't information.
frightened Write NO MORE THAN
of making
THREE WORDS
rewarding. taken from the recording for each answer in the space provided.
mistakes.
In just a matter of hours, yesterday's fire 16) some of that history, but not nearly all of it. The fire is out now. The
17) is gone, but the recognizable bell towers remain, and many historic structures and artwork survived.
And because of the jetlag or because of some 18) , I woke up in the middle of the night, could not resist to check my
phone.
But it's also 19) to remember that it's not the first time that Notre Dame has to be rebuilt, actually.
And then the cathedral kind of fall apart. And that's because of Victor Hugo - created some, you know, 20) the
cathedral in the early 19th century with his novel.
It must be hard to imagine this place ever truly being gone. I mean, there's just a 21) there that is incredible.
I think we are so lucky that the firemen - and I want to 22) their work - is that they have been capable of 23)
the fire.
Something more than special - it's really the - that's where our 24) , I think.
Well, I think compared to my distress in the middle of the Shanghai night, I feel - I still feel 25) , but I'm quite hopeful.

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B.LEXICO - GRAMMAR
Part 1: Choose the best answer to each of the following questions.
1. No-one knows precisely how much he earns a month, but £2.500 can't be of the mark.
A.wide B. far C. broad D. distant
2. The Minister would not accept that his handling of the situation had been incompetent, but he did that his
Department had been 'remiss'.
A.assent B. permit C. accede D. concede
3. Our great-grandparents would find the speed with which we can travel round the world.
A.rash B. suspicious C. staggering D. incredulous
4. The of better housing and working conditions in Europe is the longer life of the population.
A.necessity B. association C. concomitant D. co-existence
5. He thumbed through the rose to see if there was anything he fancied for his south-facing wall.
A.brochure B. catalogue C. leaflet D. booklet
6. The collapse of the silver market left him financially .
A.desolate B. dejected C. destitute D. derelict
7. In times of unemployment figures usually rise dramatically.
A.austerity B. severity C. sobriety D. gravity
8. At his , the silver mine was left to his wife.
A.heritage B. birthright C. inheritance D. bequest
9. The President was eventually by a military coup.
A.disposed B. despised C. deposed D. dispersed
10. reports of the number of casualties in the disaster have caused widespread panic.
A.Extravagant B. Exaggerated C. Excessive D. Extortionate
11. Not being able to find my phone number is a pretty excuse for not contacting me.
A.fragile B. frail C. feeble D. faint
12. In the days before the widespread use of having an operation must have been a gruelling experience.
A.aesthetes B. aesthetics C. anaesthetics D. anaesthetists
13.He so much harm on the nation during his regime that it has never fully recovered.
A.indicted B. inferred C. induced D. inflicted
14.It’s much more expensive if you use the phone at rate.
A.high B. busy C. peak D. heavy
15.When facing problems, it is important to keep a sense of .
A.proportion B. introspection C. relativity D. comparison
Part 2: Identify and correct 5 errors in the passage.
Sleep is an essential component for maintaining health. In children, sleep is also vital for growth and development. Ongoing sleep
deprivation has been linked to an increasing risk for some chronic health problems. In addition, sleep deprivation has been shown to
relate with both increasing susceptibility to illness and slow recovery times from illness. In one study, people with chronic
insufficient sleep, set as six hours of sleep a night or less, were found to be four times as likely to catch a cold compared to those who
were reported sleeping for seven hours or more a night. Due to the role of sleep in regulating metabolism, insufficient sleep may also
play a role in weight gain or, conversely, in impeding weight lost.
No Mistake Correction No Mistake Correction No Mistake Correction
1 slow slower 3 times time 5 lost loss
2 as more 4 relate correlate
Part 3: Supply the correct form of the words given to complete the text below.
IT'S ONLY SKIN
DEEP

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We are the only animal that chooses what it will look like. True, the chameleon changes colour - but not 1.ANTIQUE
willfully. Unlike us, it doesn’t get up in the morning and ask itself, 'What shall I look like today?', but we can 2.DOMINAT
and do. Indeed, the (1) of body decoration points to the conclusion that it is a key factor in our E
development as the (2) life-form on our planet. 3.CUSTOM
4.KIN
By (3) their physical appearance our ancestors distanced themselves from the rest of the 5.APPEAR
animal kingdom. Within each tribe this helped them to mark out differences of role, status, and (4) 6.LINE
. Our ancestors (5) developed extraordinary techniques of body decoration for practical reasons.
7.ARGUE
How to show where one tribe ends and another begins? How to (6) in a lasting way the significance of an
individual becoming an adult member of society? (7) , without the expressive capabilities of such 'body 8.FINITE
language' we would have been (8) less successful as a species.

1. antiquity 2. dominant 3.customizing 4.kinship

5.apparently 6.underline 7.arguably 8.infinitely
Part 4: Complete each of the following sentences with one suitable preposition or particle.
1. Fielding is really on form in this novel; in fact it’s one of his best.
2. I thought the butler was the murderer, but I was way off the mark; it turned out to be the doctor!
3. The latest novel by Grant is hilarious. It had me in stitches.
4. He's keeping details of his book under wraps until the official launch.
5. by rights my sister should have won the prize, as she wrote more of the story than I did.
6. She's usually an excellent writer, but her latest book is a bit under par.
7. He's a wonderful actor. He can laugh or cry at will.
8. His plots are usually believable but in this book he goes over the top and ends up writing melodrama.
9. I bought a great science fiction book to give to the twins. It should be right up their street.
10.I don't think she cheated to win the prize. She's a model student, so she is above suspicion.
C. READING COMPREHENSION
Part 1: Read the text below and then decide which word, (A, B, C or D), best fits each space.
A. If you've been told by your boss to improve your knowledge of a foreign language you will know that success doesn't come quickly.
It generally takes years to learn another language well and constant (1) to maintain the high standards required for frequent
business use. Whether you study in a class, with audiocassettes, computers or on your
(2) sooner or (3) every language course finishes and you must decide what to do next if you need a foreign language for your
career.
Business audio Magazine is a new product designed to help you continue language study in a way that fits easily into your busy
schedule. Each audiocassette (4) of an hour - long program packed with business news, features and interviews in the language of your
choice. These cassettes won't teach you how to order meals or ask for directions. It's
(5) that you can do that already. Instead, by giving you an opportunity to hear the language as it's really spoken, they help you to (6)
your vocabulary and improve your ability to use real language relating to, for example, that all- important marketing trip.
The great advantage of using audio magazines is that they (7) you to perfect your language skills in ways that suit your lifestyle. For example,
you can select a topic and listen in your car or hotel when away on business. No other business course is as (8) and the unique radio-
magazine format is as instructive as it is entertaining. In addition to the audiocassette, this package includes a transcript with a business
glossary and a study (9) . The components are structured so that intermediate and advanced students may use them separately or together,
(10) on their ability.
1. A. exercise B. performance C. practice D. operation
2. A. self B. individual C. personal D. own
3. A. after B. then C. later D. quicker
4. A. consists B. includes C. contains D. involves
5. A. insisted B. acquired C. asserted D. assumed
6. A. prolong B. extend C. spread D. lift
7. A. allow B. let C. support D. offer
8. A. adjustable B. flexible C. convertible D. variable
9. A. addition B. supplement C. extra D. anuscript
10. A. according B. depending C. relating D. basing

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B Too much on your plate? Waste not, want not!
Recent research carried out in Ireland amongst chefs and consumers found that 48% of people admitted to regularly over-ordering
in restaurants. A campaign has been launched as a result, calling for the food-service industry to join (1)
with chefs and consumers to address the issue of food waste.
To bring the research findings to (2) , the owner of a restaurant in Dublin is creating a "Great Irish Waste" menu, reconsidering food
ingredients that have been thrown away, rejected or (3) inedible and turning them into imaginative dishes that are both appetising and of a
suitable (4) to serve his customers. He says that while there will always be some (5) of waste in the kitchen, due to elements such
as bones or fat trimmings, there's an opportunity to (6) wastage in the restaurant itself through better communication. "Even though so much
food comes back on customers' plates and goes in the bin, the majority of diners aren't aware of the environmental or cost (7) of that
waste. Without consumers shifting their mindset, restaurants will struggle to reduce food waste significantly."
Tackling this problem as a consumer is straightforward. Ultimately, it (8) smart shopping, clever cooking and shrewd storage.
1. A. arms B. parts C. forces D. roles
2. A fruition B. life C. action D. book
3. A. held B. deemed C. said D. regarded
4. A. model B. equivalent C. measure D. standard
5. A. degree B. scale C. margin D. quantity
6. A. shorten B. discount C. minimize D. abbreviate
7. A. expectations B. associations C. regulations D. implications
8. A. comes down to B. sets off against C. lives up to D. gets over with
Part 2: Fill in each gap with ONE suitable word.
A. Many people believe that watching television has resulted in lower reading standards in schools. (1) , the link between television
and printed books is not as simple as that. In many (2) , television actually encourages people to read: for example, when a book
is turned into a TV series, its sales often go up.
One study of this link examined six-year-old children who were viewing a special series of 15-minute programmes at school. The series was
designed to encourage love of book, as (3) as to develop the basic mechanical skills of reading. Each programme is an animated film of a
children's book. The story is read aloud while certain key phrases from the book appear on the screen, beneath the picture. Whenever a word
is read, it is also highlighted on the TV screen.
One finding was (4) watching these programmes was very important to the children. If anything prevented them
(5) seeing a programme, they were very disappointed. What's more, they wanted to read the books (6) the different parts of the
series were based on.
The programmes also gave the children (7) confidence when looking at these books. As a result of (8) familiarity with the
stories, they would sit in pairs and read the stories aloud to (9) other. On one occasion, the children showed great sympathy when
discussing a character in a book because they themselves (10) been moved when watching the character on television.
1.however 2.cases 3.well 4.that 5.from
6.which 7.more 8.the 9.each 10.had
B. Does the thought of making a presentation to a group of peers bring you (1) in a cold sweat? If so, you're not alone. The
mere idea of having to "stand and deliver" in front of others is enough to strike dread into the (2) of even the most experienced
business person, let alone students. Yet effective spoken communication is an essential (3)
for career success in today's business and academic environments.
So what can people do to add sparkle to their speaking skills and (4) this understandable but unfounded fear of speaking in public?
The bad news is that presentation nerves are quite normal and you will probably always suffer from them. The good news is that
interesting speakers are (5) and not born. You can learn the techniques that will (6)
you into a calm and convincing speaker.
The first step is to persuade yourself you can do it. Just like an actor waiting in the wings, or an athlete (7) up for the big race, you
need to get yourself on a confidence high. Try focusing your thoughts on moments of particular success during your life to (8) .
Remember that the physical symptoms of nerves are most obvious to you. The audience won't see your knees knocking or your hands
trembling so don't worry about it. Some of the worst presentations are
those where the speaker clearly hasn't (9) together enough time to it beforehand. Let's face it; a presentation that's slung isn't going
half an hour before it's going to be (10) to impress anyone.
1.out 2.heart 3.skill 4.overcome 5.made
6.turn 7.warming 8.date 9.devoted 10.delivered

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Part 3: Read the article again and choose the best answer — A, B, C or D for the following questions.
One of the primary ways of approaching the Greek theatre is through archeology, the systematic study of material remain such
as architecture, inscriptions, sculpture, vase painting, and other forms of decorative art. [A] Serious on-site excavations began in
Greece around 1870, but W. Dorpteld did not begin the first extensive study of the Theatre of Dionysus until 1886. [B] Since that
time, more than 167 other Greek theatres have been identified and many of them have been excavated. [C] Nevertheless, they still do
not permit us to describe the precise appearance of the skene (illustrations printed in books are conjectural reconstructions), since
many pieces are irrevocably lost because the buildings in later periods became sources of stone for other projects and what remains
is usually broken and scattered.
[D] That most of the buildings were remodeled many times has created great problems for those seeking to date both the parts and
the successive versions. Despite these drawbacks, archeology provides the most concrete evidence we have about the theatre
structures of ancient Greece. But, if they have told us much, archeologists have not completed their work, and many sites have
scarcely been touched.
Perhaps the most controversial use of archeological evidence in theatre history is vase paintings, thousands of which have survived
from ancient Greece. (Most of those used by theatre scholars are reproduced in Margarete Bieher's The History of the Greek and
Roman Theatre.) Depicting scenes from mythology and daily life, the vases are the most graphic pictorial evidence we have. But
they are also easy to misinterpret. Some scholars have considered any vase that depicts a subject treated in a surviving drama or any
scene showing masks, flute players, or ceremonials to be valid evidence of theatrical practice. This is a highly questionable
assumption, since the Greeks made widespread use of masks, dances, and music outside the theatre and since the myths on which
dramatists drew were known to everyone, including vase painters, who might well depict the same subjects as dramatists without being
indebted to them. Those vases showing scenes unquestionably theatrical are few in number.
Written evidence about ancient Greek theatre is often treated as less reliable than archeological evidence because most written accounts
are separated so far in time from the events they describe and because they provide no information about their own sources. Of the
written evidence, the surviving plays are usually treated as the most reliable. But the oldest surviving manuscripts of Greek plays date
from around the tenth century, C.E., some 1500 years after they were first performed. Since printing did not exist during this time span,
copies of plays had to be made by hand, and therefore the possibility of textual errors creeping in was magnified. Nevertheless, the
scripts offer us our readiest access to the cultural and theatrical conditions out of which they came. But these scripts, like other kinds of
evidence, are subject to varying interpretations. Certainly performances embodied a male perspective, for example, since the plays were
written, selected, staged, and acted by men. Yet the existing plays feature numerous choruses of women and many feature strong
female characters. Because these characters often seem victims of their own powerlessness and appear to be governed, especially in the
comedies, by sexual desire, some critics have seen these plays as rationalizations by the male-dominated culture for keeping women
segregated and cloistered. Other critics, however, have seen in these same plays an attempt by male authors to force their male audiences
to examine and call into question this segregation and cloistering of Athenian women.
By far the majority of written references to Greek theatre date from several hundred years after the events they report. The writers
seldom mention their sources of evidence, and thus we do not know what credence to give them. In the absence of material nearer in
time to the events, however, historians have used the accounts and have been grateful to have them. Overall, historical treatment of the
Greek theatre is something like assembling a jigsaw puzzle from which many pieces are missing: historians arrange what they have and
imagine (with the aid of the remaining evidence and logic) what has been lost. As a result, though the broad outlines of Greek theatre
history are reasonably clear, many of the details remain open to doubt.
1. According to paragraph 1, why is it impossible to identify the time period for theatres in Greece?
A.There are too few sites that have been excavated and very little data collected about them.
B. The archeologists from earlier periods were not careful, and many artifacts were broken.
C. It is confusing because stones from early sites were used to build later structures.
D.Because it is very difficult to date the concrete that was used in construction during early periods.
2. What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about the skene in theatre history?
A.Drawings in books are the only accurate visual records.
B. Not enough evidence is available to make a precise model.
C. Archaeologists have excavated a large number of them.
D.It was not identified or studied until the early 1800s.
3. The word 'primary' in the passage is closest in meaning to
A.reliable B. important C. unusual D. accepted

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4. In paragraph 2, the author explains that all vases with paintings of masks or musicians may not be evidence of theatrical
subjects by .
A.arguing that the subjects could have been used by artists without reference to a drama
B. identifying some of the vases as reproductions that were painted years after the originals
C. casting doubt on the qualifications of the scholars who produced the vases as evidence
D.pointing out that there are very few vases that have survived from the time of early dramas
5. The word 'controversial' in the passage is closest in meaning to
A.accepted B. debated C. limited D. complicated
6. In paragraph 3, the author states that female characters in Greek theatre
A.had no featured parts in plays B. were mostly ignored by critics
C. did not participate in the chorus D. frequently played the part of victims
7. According to paragraph 3, scripts of plays may not be accurate because .
A.the sources cited are not well known B. copies by hand may contain many errors
C. they are written in very old language D. the printing is difficult to read
8. The word 'credence' in the passage is closest in meaning to .
A.evidence B. compromise C. agreement D. credibility
9. The word 'them' in the passage refers to .
A.events B. sources C. writers D. references
10. Why does the author mention a jigsaw puzzle in paragraph 4?
A.To demonstrate the difficulty in drawing conclusions from partial evidence
B. To compare the written references for plays to the paintings on vases
C. To justify using accounts and records that historians have located
D.To introduce the topic for the next reading passage in the textbook
11. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the author's opinion about vase paintings?
A.Evidence from written documents is older than evidence from vase paintings.
B. The sources for vase paintings are clear because of the images on them.
C. The details in vase paintings are not obvious because of their age.
D.There is disagreement among scholars regarding vase paintings.
12.Look at the four squares [...] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage.
These excavations have revealed much that was previously unknown, especially about the dimensions and layout of
theatres. Where could the sentence best be added? C
13.Directions: An introduction for a short summary of the passage appears below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE
answer choices that mention the most important points in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they
express ideas that are not included in the passage or are minor points from the passage.
Greek theatre has been studied by a variety of methods.
A.Because the Greeks enjoyed dancing and music for entertainment outside of the theatre, many scenes on vases are ambiguous.
B. Historical accounts assembled many years after the actual theatrical works were presented give us a broad perspective
of the earlier theatre.
C. Although considered less reliable, written records, including scripts, provide insights into the cultural aspects of theatre.
D. Archaeological excavations have uncovered buildings and artifacts, many of which were vases with theatrical scenes
painted on them.
E. For the most part, men wrote the plays for Greek theatre, but choruses and even strong roles were played by women.
F. Computer simulations can recreate the image of a building that is crumbling as long as the dimensions and layout are known.
Part 4: You are going to read an extract from a literary biography. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the extract.
Choose from the paragraphs A—H the one which fits each gap (1-7). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to
use.
Then in early spring, with the flats half-finished, something happened which threw us all together; something ordinary in itself but for
me an occasion which had much of the punitive, rasping air of the Thirties. It began one morning with the discovery that some non-
union men had been smuggled onto the job by the manager — provocation enough to lower for a moment, at least, the sacred barriers
between the trades. Someone sounded the alarm by beating on an iron triangle, and everyone immediately stopped work.

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 F
We massed in the open outside the manager's office, our tempers suddenly transformed — over five hundred men huddled in the
raw cold wind, waiting for our ranks to throw up a leader.
2. H
The loaded phrases touched off little bush-fires of anger which flickered across the crowd, then died. Finally the manager sent a
message ordering us to return to work.
3. C
Just then a tall stoop-backed labourer pushed his way to the front and climbed up on to a pile of timber, and as soon as he turned to
address us we knew that he'd do, and that the vacuum was filled.
4. G
His face, in fact, was almost the perfect prototype of the worker-hero of early Soviet posters — proud, passionate, merciless and
fanatic, yet deeply scarred by hardship. He was still in his twenties but already had a history, he'd been jailed after a naval mutiny, and
now as he towered above us, his voice mangled and eloquent, his finger stabbing the cold spring air, he stood enlarged on a screen
that seemed giant-sized, a figure straight out of Potemkin'. He spoke briefly, with savage almost contemptuous dignity, and the other
gobblers round the ground fell silent.
5. D
The manager had been listening at the door of his office, smirking, and playing with his trilby When he heard our decision he went pink
with rage and began to bounce up and down like o baby. 'Outside!' he screamed. 'Everyone out this instant! Outside — or I'll have you
arrested for trespassing!' We filed through the gates and sat down on the Heath, five hundred men in the rain, and watched as the gates
were locked behind us, and a little later, the police arrived. The half-finished buildings stood wet and empty, with o look of
sudden death.
6. A
The strike lasted two weeks — a fortnight of back-street agitation during which I tasted the first sweet whiff of revolution. Without work or
status, we lived an underground existence, cut off from the rule of law, meeting in cafes and basements, drawing up manifestos, planning
demonstrations, painting placards and posters.
7. E
I began to see visions of the day when the workers would triumph, and we would be running with flogs through the streets, the
bosses in flight, the temples of privilege falling, other workers waiting to join us, to inherit a scrubbed new world of open-necked shirts,
bare arms flexed in common labour ...
Then, suddenly, the strike was aver, closed by a grudging agreement, and we were back at work again; back at dodging the foreman and
gambling in corners, unchanged except for two weeks' hunger.
A An hour ago we'd been in there, swarming all over them, now a row of black-taped cops stood between us. Such a narrow gap
between consent and dispute. We were outlaws now all right. When we approached the police, expecting a bit of traditional banter, they
seemed just as livid as the manager.
B Consequently we hardened ourselves into a compact little group, even more exclusive and cagey than theirs. The use of solidarity
was the only skill we had, and I think we would have slain for each other.
C He'd discuss nothing. We could take it or leave it.
D With a few iron words he raised the level of our grievance to the heights of cosmic revolution. We had been vague and wavering;
now we had no doubts. We voted for immediate strike.
E In this hazy ghetto of ideological struggle it was easy to lose our dimensions and the immediate aims of the strike became so
blurred that we felt ready to take on the world.
F Cement mixers coughed and came to a halt; the men swarmed off the rooftops and scrambled down the scaffolding as though
abandoning a stricken battleship.
G This man was later to become one of the legends of the Thirties, part of its myth of class struggle and protest — a lean powerful
figure with dangling arms, big fists, and a square bitter face.
H At first we were lost; sporadic meetings broke out, voices shouted against each other. `Brothers! — Comrades! — We got to
stand solid on this — Chuck `cm out — Put our demands to the bosses.'
Part 5: You are going to read a newspaper article in which people talk about their experiences at job interviews. For questions
1-10, choose from the people (A-F).
Which person mentions the following?

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the importance of keeping to the point 1 A
awareness of body language 2 E
sources of information about your prospective employer 3 C
taking responsibility for past errors 4 E
appearing to have rehearsed responses 5 B
preparing inquiries to put to a prospective employer foreseeing 6 D
the consequences of feeling apprehensive 7 F
indicating that you view the interview as a transaction 8 C
a relaxed atmosphere in the workplace 9 D
advantages in being honest about your failings 10 A

Tell us Something about Yourself

Being interviewed for a job can be a stressful experience. We asked six people what they learnt from being in that situation.
A. My first interview for a job taught me a great deal. I was applying for the position of junior account executive in an advertising
company, which involves dealing with clients on a face-to-face basis. It follows that you have to be good at interpersonal skills, and
unfortunately, that's not the impression I gave. Like a lot of people, I tend to babble when I'm nervous. The interviewer began by asking
me to say something about myself, and I started talking about my hobbies. But I got carried away and off at a tangent, which made a bad
impression. The other lesson I learnt was that if you are asked what your weaknesses are, you really shouldn't be evasive. You could
mention a weakness that can also be a strength. For example, being pedantic is not always a bad thing in certain circumstances, and you
should explain how you cope with that weakness, but you have to say something.
B. In my present job I have to interview applicants, and I can offer a few general tips. Firstly, a candidate should not learn a speech off
by heart; you will come across as insincere, as if you have practiced everything in front of a minor. Secondly, it is crucial to
understand what the interviewer wants you to talk about. For instance, an interviewer might ask about a situation where your supervisor
or manager had a problem with your work. Now, what the interviewer is really after is to see how you react to criticism, and the best thing is
to say that you tried to learn from this. Finally, don't try to conceal your real character. When I was interviewed for a job many years ago,
the interviewer asked me at the end of our talk if I had any questions. I was very keen to get the job, so I asked what opportunities there
were for promotion if I were hired. I wondered if perhaps I had been too direct, but I later discovered that employers like you to seem
eager, and I think they were impressed by my enthusiasm and ambition.
C. One good way to prepare for an interview is to find out as much as you can about the company you have applied to from its website
and promotional material. When you are asked if you have any questions, you can show that you have done this preparatory work,
which will impress the interviewer. I also think a lot of candidates are too defensive in
interviews. It's not enough just to avoid giving the 'wrong' answers; you should also actively try to make a good impression.
Make it clear that the interview is a two-way process: after all, you want to be sure the company is the right place for you. It's acceptable
to take the opportunity, when one is offered, to interview the interviewer! One way to do this is to ask him or her some penetrating
questions such as why he or she has stayed with the company for so long. Some people might think such a question is arrogant, so
size up the interviewer first and decide whether it would be an appropriate thing to ask.
D. I remember one interview I attended with a company that makes ice cream and other dairy products. I didn't know much about the
company, and it was brought home to me that I should have found out some basic facts. I turned up in a smart business suit and tie, only
to find that my prospective employers were in jeans! They believed in being casual: no private offices, everyone ate in the same canteen,
people all used first names with each other etc. I realised I should have done more research. Needless to say, I didn't get the job. On
another occasion, at the end of an interview, I was asked if I had anything to say. I was so relieved that the interview was over that I just
smiled and blurted out: 'No thanks!' I later realised this was a mistake. A candidate should decide in advance on at least ten things to ask
the interviewer: it's not necessary to ask more than two or three questions, but you need to have some in reserve in case the question you
wanted to ask is answered in the course of the interview.
E. Preparation is of extreme importance; things like I finding out what form the interview will have. Will there be any sort of written
component, for instance, and will you be talking to one person or a panel? And of course, you need to prepare answers to those
awkward questions designed to find out more about your character. For example, you might be asked about your most important achievement
so far; don't answer this in a way that makes you seem swollen- headed or complacent as this will suggest that you don't learn easily. Actually,
it's not so much what people say that makes them seem arrogant as the way they sit, how they hold their heads, whether they meet interviewer's
eye, so bear that in mind. Another question interviewers sometimes ask, to find out how well you work in a team, is about mistakes you
have made. You should have an

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example ready and admit that you were at fault, otherwise it looks as though you are the kind of person who shifts the blame onto others. But
you should also show that you learnt from the mistake and wouldn't make it again.
F. Being nervous can make you forget things, so always take detailed notes with you an interview, even about the simplest things
- this will help you feel less nervous. I also think you have to strike the right balance between being too arrogant and too self- effacing.
For example, if you are asked where you see yourself in five years' time, don't be diffident about showing that you are ambitious. You
could even say you'd like to be doing the interviewer's job! Show that your ambition is the force that drives you — employers are happy
to see this characteristic because it also suggests you will work hard. Take every opportunity to reinforce the impression that you are
eager; one way is by asking questions about the job. This suggests that you will take it seriously. You could also ask what made the last
person to fill the position you have applied for successful, or what you could accomplish in the job that would satisfy the interviewer.
Naturally, the answers to questions like this are valuable in themselves, but frankly, the main reason for asking is to ensure you make
the right impression.
Part 6: Read the text below and do the following tasks.
In Praise of Amateurs
Despite the specialisation of scientific research, amateurs still have an important role to play
During the scientific revolution of the 17 th century, scientists were largely men of private means who pursued their interest in natural
philosophy for their own edification. Only in the past century or two has it become possible to make a living from investigating the workings
of nature. Modern science was, in other words, built on the work of amateurs. Today, science is an increasingly specialised and
compartmentalised subject, the domain of experts who know more and more about less and less. Perhaps surprisingly, however, amateurs -
even those without private means - are still important.
A recent poll carried out at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science by astronomer Dr Richard Fienberg
found that, in addition to his field of astronomy, amateurs are actively involved in such fields as acoustics, horticulture,
ornithology, meteorology, hydrology and palaeontology. Far from being crackpots, amateur scientists are often in close touch with
professionals, some of whom rely heavily on their co-operation.
Admittedly, some fields are more open to amateurs than others. Anything that requires expensive equipment is clearly a no-go area. And
some kinds of research can be dangerous; most amateur chemists, jokes Dr Fienberg, are either locked up or have blown themselves to
bits. But amateurs can make valuable contributions in fields from rocketry to palaeontology and the rise of the Internet has made it
easier than ever before to collect data and distribute results.
Exactly which field of study has benefited most from the contributions of amateurs is a matter of some dispute. Dr Fienberg
makes a strong case for astronomy. There is, he points out, a long tradition of collaboration between amateur and professional sky
watchers. Numerous comets, asteroids and even the planet Uranus were discovered by amateurs. Today, in addition to comet and
asteroid spotting, amateurs continue to do valuable work observing the brightness of variable stars and detecting novae - 'new' stars in
the Milky Way and supernovae in other galaxies. Amateur observers are helpful, says Dr Fienberg, because there are so many of them
(they far outnumber professionals) and because they are distributed all over the world. This makes special kinds of observations
possible: if several observers around the world accurately record the time when a star is eclipsed by an asteroid, for example, it is
possible to derive useful information about the asteroid's shape.
Another field in which amateurs have traditionally played an important role is palaeontology. Adrian Hunt, a palaeontologist at Mesa
Technical College in New Mexico, insists that his is the field in which amateurs have made the biggest contribution. Despite the
development of high-tech equipment, he says, the best sensors for finding fossils are human eyes — lots of them. Finding volunteers to look
for fossils is not difficult, he says, because of the near-universal interest in anything to do with dinosaurs. As well as helping with this
research, volunteers learn about science, a process he calls 'recreational education'.
Rick Bonney of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, contends that amateurs have contributed the most in his
field. There are, he notes, thought to be as many as 60 million birdwatchers in America alone. Given their huge numbers and the wide
geographical coverage they provide, Mr Bonney has enlisted thousands of amateurs in a number of research projects. Over the past
few years their observations have uncovered previously unknown trends and cycles in bird migrations and revealed declines in the
breeding populations of several species of migratory birds, prompting a habitat conservation programme.
Despite the successes and whatever the field of study, collaboration between amateurs and professionals is not without its difficulties. Not
everyone, for example is happy with the term `amateur'. Mr Bonney has coined the term 'citizen scientist' because he felt that other words,
such as `volunteer' sounded disparaging. A more serious problem is the question of how professionals can best acknowledge the
contributions made by amateurs. Dr Fienberg says that some amateur astronomers are happy to provide their observations but grumble
about not being reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. Others feel let down when their observations are used in scientific papers, but they are
not listed as co-authors. Dr Hunt says some amateur palaeontologists are disappointed when told that they cannot take finds home with them.

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These are legitimate concerns but none seems insurmountable. Provided amateurs and professionals agree the terms on which they
will work together beforehand, there is no reason why co-operation between the two groups should not flourish. Last year Dr S.
Carlson, founder of the Society for Amateur Scientists won an award worth $290,000 for his work in promoting such co-
operation. He says that one of the main benefits of the prize is the endorsement it has given to the contributions of amateur scientists,
which has done much to silence critics among those professionals who believe science should remain their exclusive preserve.
At the moment, says Dr Carlson, the society is involved in several schemes including an innovative rocket-design project and the setting
up of a network of observers who will search for evidence of a link between low-frequency radiation and earthquakes. The amateurs, he
says, provide enthusiasm and talent, while the professionals provide guidance 'so that anything they do discover will be taken seriously'.
Having laid the foundations of science, amateurs will have much to contribute to its ever-expanding edifice.
Complete the summary below. Choose ONE or TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Prior to the 19th century, professional (1)scientists did not exist and scientific research was largely carried out by amateurs.
However, while (2) s c i e n c e today is mostly the domain of professionals, a recent US survey highlighted the fact that
amateurs play an important role in at least seven (3) f i e l d s and indeed many professionals are reliant on their (4)
cooperation In areas such as astronomy, amateurs can be invaluable when making specific (5)
o b s e r v a t i o n s on a global basis. Similarly in the area of palaeontology their involvement is invaluable and helpers are
easy to recruit because of the popularity of (6) dinosaurs
Amateur birdwatchers also play an active role and their work has led to the establishment of a (7) c o n s e r v a t i o n
programme.
Occasionally the term 'amateur' has been the source of disagreement and alternative names have been suggested but generally speaking,
as long as the professional scientists (8)acknowledge the work of the non-professionals, the two groups can work productively
together.
Reading Passage 1 contains a number of opinions provided by four different scientists. Match each opinion (Questions 9-13) with the
scientists A—D. NB You may use any of the scientists A—D more than once.
9 Amateur involvement can also be an instructive pastime. B
10 Amateur scientists are prone to. A
11 Science does not belong to professional scientists alone. D
12 In certain areas of my work, people are a more valuable resource than technology. B
13 It is important to give amateurs a name which reflects the value of their work. C
A Dr Fienberg B Adrian Hunt C Rick Bonney D Dr Carlson
D. WRITING
Part 1: The graph and chart below give information about 3D cinema screens and film releases. Summarise the
information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Part 2: Write about the following topic

In the past, sporting champions used to be motivated primarily by the desire to win a match or to break world records. These
days, they are more likely to be motivated by prize money and the opportunity to be famous.
What message does this send to young people and how does this attitude to sport affect the sports themselves?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least
300 words.

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